Hello, my name is Adil and I have been slowly losing my eyesight from the age of 14. I am now 25 and near blind. In April 2007, I performed a heli-drop, which involved me snowboarding down the Trient Glacier in Switzerland. To read more on my challenge you can visit my blog site:
www.feeltheedge.com
Why did I do it?
The message that can be taken from my challenge is that if a blind person can be guided through deadly crevices on a glacier, then the challenges or problems (crevices) you have in your life can be overcome. This may require, at times, some guidance and help from people around you; however, never be scared in challenging yourself.
An important by-product of my challenge is the opportunity to provide 300 children a future by providing them 10 schools to obtain an education and emotional support for the trauma they have gone through. These children survived the Asian earthquake, but lost everything else. Please sponsor me if you haven't - It will take a few minutes. Please make my challenge that much more worth while by donating!
To make a donation, please click on the button below.
To read my blog, which has stories of my training and, in general, the ramblings of a blind snowboarder visit:
www.feeltheedge.com
Some more information on the Asian Earthquake:
The Asian earthquake killed over 80,000 people together with destroying important institutions such as schools. The children who survived may feel they have lost everything, including a hope for the future. We can not have their family and friends returned to them; however, we can help them to hope for a better future through enabling them to attend Action Aid's child friendly schools. These schools will provide the children an environment in which they can learn and receive the emotional support to assist them with their trauma. With your support, we can commission 10 Child Friendly schools, each costing £1,400 with a total cost for 10 schools being £14,000.
Thanks to everyone who sent comments and messages of support. They are greatly appreciated. Please continue sending your comments and questions to:
twistedkilt@hotmail.com.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me - ActionAid will receive your money faster!
If you are a taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
So please sponsor me now!
Many thanks for your support!
So Adi......Q&A with Adi:
Q:So Adi, I donated on your previous website www.justgiving.com/adil where did that money go to and can I sponsor you again?
A:Your donations on the previous site had help to save the lives of many people in the earthquake during the emergency situation as the money was used to buy essentials such as blankets and medical supplies. This site is to help the survivors by providing the children a better future. I really appreciate your previous donation and if it is financially viable for you to sponsor me again that will be lovely.
Q:So Adi, why are you interested in this cause?
A:The October 2005 earthquake in
Asia took the most lives for a natural disaster in history. A lot of children died and it would be great to help in a small way to improve the future of the surviving children.
Q:So Adi, you look Asian, do you have family in the area affected by the earthquake?
A:Nope, though my parents are from South Asia, my mother being from Pakistan and my father was born in India
. My siblings were born in England somewhere and I was brought into the world in bonny Scotlnd and am a true Glaswegian though working in
London .
Q:So Adi how can you snowboard being blind?
A: Well I can’t at the moment. I am perfecting my snowboarding skills as we speak. I am in good physical health and my weak eyesight doesn’t prevent me from having a strong vision of riding down the mountain.
Q:So Adi, how will you be able to see as you are coming down the mountain?
A: I won’t; I will be wearing a headset through which I will be given directions to hopefully respond at lightening speed…haha.
Q:So Adi, what does it feel like snowboarding near blind?
A:I can feel the vibration under the board. I find it difficult at times to know in what direction the board is going and at what speed. There has been a time when my instructor has had mini heart attacks as I pick up a lot of speed and don’t realise it. However, other times I feel I am moving quite fast but then fall on my backside as I realise that my board is stationary. However, I am confident continuous practice will result in me being more in touch with my board.
Q:So Adi, are you suffering from any psychological distress resulting in you wanting to do something so crazy?
A:I’m not crazy… I’m not crazy… I’m not crazy…Did I mention I’m not crazy?On a serious note, I have discussed my plans with one of the leading authorities within snowboarding, former multiple times British Champion Neil McNab. Neil has faith in the project.
Points of information:
Point 1:
Originally the Heli drop (exiting a helicopter and snowboarding down a mountain) was going to take place in November 2006, however the weather conditions in
Europe will be more suitable in April 2007 as there will actually be some snow then to snowboard down.
Point 2:
Apart from being blind and on the ugly side, I can’t yet properly snowboard (Aug 2006), so the challenge is for me to raise the money and to become a competent and confident snowboarder within the next few months.
Point 3:
The helicopter will only take me up the mountain after I have demonstrated that I am an able snowboarder.
Diary extracts...
01/03/06 - Training session in
Chamonix, with Instructor Keith McKintosh.
I was on my edge and going across the slope and had picked up some speed. I was waiting for Keith to give me the signal so I could turn on to my other edge and traverse across the other way. However my earpiece went quiet and then I heard someone who did not have the hardcore rugged Scottish tones of Keith, it was a French woman (or possibly Spanish) saying something in her sweet accent but obviously unrelated to my plight! I was getting faster and faster, no Keith, and a French/ Spanish woman in my ear!!! Out of desperation I make the decision to turn....
... to read more, visit my blog at www.feeltheedge.com
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: ActionAid will receive your money faster and, if you are a taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
So please sponsor me now!
Many thanks for your support!
I would like to thank the companies that have supported me:
The White Face resort,
Lake Placid provided complementary Ski lift passes and access to an instructor for the 4 days in December 2005.
Hilton Lake Placid kindly provided accommodation for the 4 nights I was in
Lake Placid .
Easyjet has agreed to provide complimentary flights to the training sessions in
Chamonix, .
McNab Snowboarding have provided me with complimentary accommodation and snowboarding instruction in
Chamonix .
Selected Media Coverage:
http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/top_stories/?SecID=1&ArID=161931
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4744128.stm
http://www.snowsphere.com/articles/bigblind/index.html
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